Dispensing device for cartons



Ap 17, 1951 D. w. FORS'YTH 2,549,373

DISPENSING DEVICE FOR CARTONS Filed May 9, 1950 Fi .7. I V INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 17, 1951 UNITED nrsrensmo Dav es FOR oAR'roNs Dabney W. Forsyth, Santa Monica, Calif. Application May 9, 1950, Serial No. 160,981

g. This invention relates to containers for flake or granular material such as dry cereals, soap flakes and the like and refers particularly to closures for such containers.

It is the general object of the inventionto proi vide a'v'ery simple, inexpensive and conveniently operable container combination of pleasing appearance.

Another object is to provide a container combination consisting of few parts. It is another object of the invention to provide cover means for the closure elements of the device designed tightly to seal such closure means, after the container has been filled and during transportation 1 of storage of the containers prior to use thereof.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the upper surface of a container embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the blank out of which the container is formed;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the container as it appears when made from the blank of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the container as it appears when completely sealed for shipment;

Fig. 5 shows a modified form of closure; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views of closure elements as used on the container.

The container proper is made from cardboard or other suitable material ordinarily usedfor this purpose and the blank, substantially shown as in Fig. 2, is cut from this material. This blank includes side members I, 2 and a top member 3. The dotted lines 4, 5 indicate the lines on which the material is bent to produce the top and side walls of the container and flaps 6, I extend from the side walls to form the bottom of the container when inwardly bent on the lines 9, In of the blank. The end walls ll, l2 extend right and left from the top member 3 and they are made with side flaps [3 to IE which are bent inwardly on the dotted lines to come to rest against the inner surfaces of the side walls I and 2, substantially as indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawing.

These flaps are glued or otherwise rigidly secured to the inner surface of the side walls I, 2 in any well-known conventional manner. In addition, I have provided flaps I8, l9 extending from the outer ends of the end walls ll, [2 and 5 Claims. (Cl. 229-17) these flaps are bent inwardly on the dotted lines to come to rest against the inner surface of the bottom member 6 or 1. This completes the carton.

It is now noticed that an opening 20 is cut through the top plate 3, extending inwardly from the right-hand upper edge 2| a short distance, in addition to which slits 22, 23 are cut into the material of the top plate between the side edges of this opening and the side edges 4, 5 of the carton in parallel relation thereto. These slits extend inwardly along the surface of the top plate substantially twice the distance that the opening 20 reaches into the top plate.

A slide 25 is made from suitable material of a size to cover the opening 2|] when placed in position thereabove and it is made wide enough to occupy the entire space between the side plates of the carton. It is mounted in position therebetween by extending the marginal portion 21, 28 through the slits 22, 23, substantially as indicated in Fig. 4. This slide is made with a flap 29 by extending the material a distance from one end thereof to form a finger-piece by means of which the slide may be moved back and forth to cover and uncover the opening '20. The slide should be made from very thin, relatively stifi material, so that it will slide through the slits 22, 23 without materially spreading the adjacent edges of the slits apart and so that it may be operated without danger of folding and so becoming dislodged by the fingers moving the slide.

It is seen from the foregoing description that I have provided a very simple and inexpensive closure fitted carton which is most convenient to operate and which will serve its purpose during the life of the carton. But while this closure means is ample for use in dispensing operations, it is advisable to provide means for tightly sealing the dispensing mechanism so as to prevent leakage of the contents thereof during shipping and storage of cartons before use. To this end I have in Fig. 4 shown a sealing element 30 placed in position on the upper right-hand corner of. the carton entirely to cover the slide 25 and the 3 in order to place the carton in condition for use to strip this piece of tape away from the carton. The flap 29 can then be bent into the upright position of Fig. 1 to make a more convenient finger piece for operating the slide. While the slide 25 in Fig. 1, for the sake of clearness, is given considerable clearance, it is to be understood that it should be of a width snugly to fit between the side plates 5, 2 of the carton as otherwise, if too much clearance is present, it might slip out of the slits when carelessly handled. This danger may be eliminated by cutting slits 38, 39 into the marginal portions of the slide, as best indicated in Fig. '7, to form lips 34, 35. These lips extend over the top plate of the carton, as indicated in Fig. 5. When so shaped, the slide will be snugly guided in the slits 32, 33 of the carton. This type of slide is also adapted for use on cylindrical cartons.

But While I have in the foregoing described preferred forms of the invention, it is to be understood that I do not intend thereby to be limited to the exact'sizes, shapes and proportions but reserve the right to embody the modifications within the scope of the claims hereto appended. -Whi1e I have, for example, in the drawing shown a rectangular discharge opening 20, it may be preferred instead thereof to provide a circular opening as indicated in dotted outline at 39 in .Fig. 5. It is to be noted also, although the container is primarily extended for holding dry material, as above specified, it may be used as a receptacle for milk and other fluids, if desired.

I claim:

1. In a carton having a single thickness top plate, closure means including parallel slits extending inwardly from one side edge of the carton,

"and a discharge opening in the top plate intermediate said slits, a rectangular slide placed on 4 the top plate with the marginal portions along the opposite side edges thereof extending through said slits, one end of the slide being formed with a finger-piece extending therefrom.

2. In a carton having a single thickness top plate, closure means including parallel slits extending inwardly from one side edge of the carton, and a discharge opening in the top plate intermediate said slits, a rectangular slide placed on the top plate with the marginal portions along the opposite side edges thereof being slitted to form lips extending through said slits and intermediate lips riding along the top surface of the top plate.

3. In a carton having a single thickness top plate, closure'means including parallel slits extending inwardly from one side edge of the carton, and a discharge opening in the top plate intermediate said slits, a rectangular slide placed on the top plate with the marginal portions along the opposite side edges thereof extending through said slits, one end of the slide being formed with a finger-piece extending therefrom, and a removable cover for the portion of the carton containing said closure'means.

4. In a carton having a single thickness top plate, closure means including parallel slits extending inwardly from one side edge of the carton, and a discharge opening in the top plate intermediate said slits, a rectangular slide placed on the top plate with the marginal portions along the opposite side edges thereof being slitted to form lips extending through said slits and intermediate lips riding along the top surface of the top plate, and a removable cover for the portion of the carton containing said closure means.

DABNEY W. FORSYTH.

No references cited. 

